Open Letter to Rev. Tijwok Athar, Religious Advisor in South Government

Personally on 5/4/2011, I phoned to pastor Tijwok to clarify what he has said to audiences in Malakal as colleague, I told him that I was unhappy with his remark and I could not believe that he was the one who issued that dangerous statement.

Without regretl he confirmed what he said, and he challenges my open letter which I wrote to President Salva Kiir in 2010, exclaiming that he was ignorant about that letter, it came to his knowledge through somebody while he was in Malakal according to him. Again, in our conversation he disregards my article which I wrote when the paramount Chief Oyath was murdered by banditry. Moreover, he was too skeptical about my response to article written by Pandit Jieng Madbay recently in which I stressed that the south will be disintegrated as result of Dinka mentality, for every tribe will make its own autonomy because Jieng community want to become a new master in the South. For this reason he challenges my status not as pastor but as political activities using the church.

Shameful he has forgotten his own allegation against the Presbyterian church of Sudan/ DHP In Malakal as agent of SPLM-DC, and he argued that all activists clergies should join politics like him because all the statements I made in my writings were political statements, which were not worthy mentioned to be from so-called pastor. He went on to say, he has met with the churches leaders in Juba with purpose to warn them not to be involved in politics. In this manner I sense that we will not taste a democratic transitional system in the South for the ruling party want to lead the nation with dictatorship system.

Indeed, before I put forward my reactions for public consumption, I would like to begin with the followings quotations: John Calvin said: ‘'It is bad to live under a prince that permits nothing, but much worse to live under one who permits everything'' , Francis Bacon argued that:'' They that deny God destroy man's nobility; for certainty, man is akin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not kin to God by his spirit, he is a base and ignoble creature''

The naked and blind accusation posted by pastor Tijwok against the Presbyterian Church and Dolieb Hill Presbytery and myself as the supporters of SPLM-DC is just fabrication for political gain. I thought Rev. Tijwok is spiritual advisor to GOSS for good governance but he turned out to be war-lord mocker who is ready to eliminate his own colleagues for personal achievement. Truly money blind a weak heart person to forget his ‘'Saint Call''. We failed to understand the intention of such barbarian allegation to DHP. Could Rev. Tijwok educate the public that the whole Catholic Church members are SPLM because the President Salva Kiir worships in that church, I think generalization accusation will not go without being challenged.

Rev. Tijwok announced to audiences in River Transport Hall in Malakal on 18/3/2011 that he had removed his Priesthood collar and joined politics. The simple question that post itself is, to whom have you rendered that collar to? This is crucial and true evident testimony that you had re-crucified Jesus Christ so that you can accomplish your personal self exultation even if it demands elimination of your people. As pastor you are not suppose to perpetuate mentality of war but of the peace making.

It is not surprising to hear that pastor Tijwok accused Dolieb Hill Presbytery of being involved in unrest situation in Malakal particularly in Chollo land for it was slogan used by Chollo politicians, who are members of SPLM party to cover up their unpopularity in Chollo. Be reminded that church is not a scaping goat for hiding your failure. Church as God institution is not permitted to speak on behalf of any political party under any circumstances, but any member has full right to join any party he wishes like what pastor Tijwok decided to do. Therefore, this baseless allegation had exposed Rev. Tijwok that he is theologically unsounded. It is true he is not train theological that is why he utters poisonous words publicly without knowing it implication. Certainly God mandated the church to speak on behalf of voiceless (Luke 4:18-19), in the light of this, the church has spiritual mandatory to challenge any crimes committed by any political party including opposition parties for the welfare of the public.

Again, on Sunday, 20 March 2011 in the church in Malakal, pastor Tijwok aired out to Arabic speaking congregation that Dolieb Hill Presbytery should be banned by GOSS because they are people encouraging armed resistance or Militias in Malakal. Pastor Tijwok exclaimed that in case of any pastor from that church (DHP) is arrested by security; he shouldn't claim that he is a pastor, for he is only a political activist using the church pulpit to pass party agenda (SPLM-DC). This is serious allegation; I don't know if he will be able to proof this accusation? For you to regard all DHP pastors as agents of SPLM- DC, who distributed the documents of that party in the church. Legally will you be in position to provide those documents to the public to support your accusation in the court of law?

On 10 April 2011 in Chollo congregation you mentioned my name, arguing that allegation you made last times was not intended to the whole church but it was for me. I appreciated that clarification, and then I will deal with you as individual. You are not worthy to be religious advisor but instigator for war that will consume you also.

I'm fully aware that backslider minister such as so-called Rev. Tijwok is irresistible to the faith and becomes more politically stooge and slave of party to disown his own call. Ideologically mankind will continue to turmoil as result of pastors who go contrary to their holy calls and become part of corrupted system. Tragically when God's minister becomes short sighted in related to the nature of God, automatically he will justify criminal acts as right and approve the government massacring its own subjects.

Rev. Tijwok your threatening language of arresting will not silence my holy position in matter regard to justice, equality, freedom and harmony, to me you are just trying to please your boss to maintain your post.

The shock waves that threaten the very foundation of our culture today are eminent failure of government to understand what people need. Collaboration of Christian leaders with failed system, usually uphold the system to master the crimes without being challenged. In democratic systems, people have a right to express their view point's without being hindered by the government, but your threatening language implies that you are not qualified to run the affairs of the nation, and this is explicit implication that such failure leader like you never acknowledge that God is present to judge you.

Here I would like to express my position that the government must recognize the need for the transcendent authority of religion to give society its legitimacy and essential cohesion. For this reason religion is indispensable to private moral and public order, and no man of sense will attack it. Undisputable fact is that the right church must base it teaching on Christ's teaching, knowing that they will be inflicted by the government which does not live to standard and also it will be in conflict with unjust leaders that discriminate their own subjects. For sure sound mindful pastors will not go into bed with corrupted system that eliminated its people.

I will stand with the truth and speak on behalf of marginalized people within my scopes of the ministry and will stand with what saint Peter and John said before Pharisees council'' that they will not stop speaking truth and if they wish (government) to punish them for unfounded reasons let them do it'' (see Acts 4:19-20 illustration), so if Rev. Tijwok was mandated by GOSS to eliminate Chollo clergies, who challenged criminal acts. Let him do it without fear, but you must be assure that I will not hearken to your threatening and intimidation language. It will not quietn me to avoid challenging crimes committed by your undisciplined soldiers of SPLA. I regarded my life as valueless for cost of voiceless people as Lord Jesus did for me. For we have an assurance from Jesus himself ‘'that we should not fear those who kill flesh but we shall fear the one, who has power to kill both flesh and souls'' (Luke 12: 4-5).

Finally, I would like to remind the public that Rev. Tijwok allegation against me was meant to divert public attention from discrimination, tribalism, nepotism, corruption and segregation which is clearly seen on daily base in South. Nevertheless, and it meant to seal up the government mismanagement in judicial and legislative institution. If the GOSS continue practicing deceptive, exploitation, manipulation and subservience ideology for sure south will not taste the real independence.

As God's minister on earth, I would like to make following point very plain:

• I'm not in marriage or support to any political party as you alleged to me in our phone conversation.

• Be assured that I will never stop challenging misconduct of any political party at all levels in relation to humankind atrocities, for the church is the voice of voiceless. For Apostle James: ‘'If you know what is right and you failed to say it is a sin''

• Rev. Tijwok your threatening language will never quieten me as God's servant, for God himself has mandated his ministers to repute evils in society in which they operated. Yes, I'm fully aware the implication of my outstanding position against any crimes committed on the earth leave alone the community in which I'm post.

• In relation to question of Chollo Land Defense Forces, I had nothing to say about, It is full responsibility of GOSS to resolve it peacefully by addressing the cause that let them to take arms and that will produce tranquility peace in Upper Nile State, for denying the cause will not solve the chronic problem faced by the State since early 80s.

• For your information I will not quit and deny my call for it is not the man who ordains me for that exciting service but it was God. Jesus says: ‘'anyone who accepted his calls is not worthy against for his service if he looks behind''

• Autocrat mentality and bias policy must be avoided in order to achieve tranquility peace in the South.

Peace loving state must protect people voluntary efforts to shape community by granting equal protection of the law, by upholding principles of justice so the weak and powerless are not exploited, and by guaranteeing liberty and providing security. In this way the government sustains a stable environment in which people can live. Indeed, they can partake one of primary benefits of democracy: the simple freedom to enjoy a cup of tea by the fire with one's family.